Astronomy Picture of the Day - Saturn in Infrared from Cassini

APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 24 Jul, 2022 | Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, SSI; Processing: Maksim Kakitsev

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: Many details of Saturn appear clearly in infrared light. Bands of clouds show great structure, including long stretching storms. Also quite striking in infrared is the unusual hexagonal cloud pattern surrounding Saturn's North Pole. Each side of the dark hexagon spans roughly the width of our Earth. The hexagon's existence was not predicted, and its origin and likely stability remains a topic of research. Saturn's famous rings circle the planet and cast shadows below the equator. The featured image was taken by the robotic Cassini spacecraft in 2014 in several infrared colors. In 2017 September, the Cassini mission was brought to a dramatic conclusion when the spacecraft was directed to dive into ringed giant.

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[dragnet2]

Check out the shape of the dark area top center.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[MtnClimber]

Yes, the unexplained hexagonal polar dark area. Any good explainers out there?

[BradyLS]

Yup. Saturn is bolted together. Take out that bolt and the planet—rings, moons, the works—flies apart. :-)

[SueRae]

I worked on that program. Circa 1992 if memory serves.

[MtnClimber]

What size socket does that take?

[SueRae]

Wow. Interesting!

[dragnet2]

Like the article said; “Why would clouds form a hexagon on Saturn”? Nobody is sure.”.

I’ve read theories, but I have no clue about it’s north-pole octagon shape.

[MtnClimber]

God uses a big wrench?

[DannyTN]

That would look nice on a stand.

[dragnet2]

If you unscrew it the planet deflates.

[DannyTN]

I've read about the hexagonal shape before. It's apparently a natural phenomenon, and I think they have demonstrated how it forms.

Science Daily: Explaining the formation of a hexagon storm on Saturn A new 3D model could explain the formation of a hexagon storm on Saturn

[MtnClimber]

Maybe the hex is the mark that an improper stand left. Maybe it was Amazon women that used to own it.

[dragnet2]

I recall the first time I saw the images of it’s north pole region. Pretty much blew me away.

[DannyTN]

True, you need a good quality stand that won’t leave marks.

The whole planet might be ammo. The Hex being he connection point to the gun. The gun spins the planet and fires it when ready.

[Delta 21]

It says right in the article,

The hexagon’s existence was not predicted.

I seen something about this to do with magnetism and spin and gravity. I can’t remember what but it’s pretty cool.

[Magnum44]